Footprints of Jesus

Table of Contents

“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Snow had fallen in the night. The little boy in the midwest farmhouse awoke and saw it from his window. Hurriedly he dressed and put on his snowsuit and boots, then he went out the kitchen door. He saw a line of footprints leading toward the barn. Following them, he found his father at his chores. “I knew I’d find you here, Daddy,” he called, “because I followed your tracks.”

Little children today can find Jesus as they grow up if they will follow His footprints. Here are five footprints—ways in which we can follow Jesus.

1. Trust in God

Jesus always had perfect trust in His heavenly Father. He once told His disciples, “The hour cometh that ye shall be scattered and leave me alone, and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (John 16:32). He told His disciples that God watches even over the sparrows, and He will surely care for His children if they trust Him.

2. Unselfishness

In the 15th chapter of Romans Paul says, “We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves . . . for even Christ pleased not Himself.” Jesus left His home in heaven because He was unselfish. He wanted others to enjoy the things that He did, and when we share with others we are following His steps.

3. Humility

Although Jesus was the ruler of the universe, He came to the world as a servant. Though He could have called angels to help Him, He allowed wicked men to take Him, bring Him to trial, and nail Him to a cross. He told His disciples that the one who wanted to be great in His kingdom should be a servant to all.

4. Obedience

Jesus said that He came down from heaven not to do His own will, but the will of His heavenly father (John 6:38). Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). We follow the steps of Jesus when we are obedient to God, and when we try to obey His word.

5. Love

Jesus loved us enough to come down from heaven to die in our place on the Cross. He told the Pharisees that the greatest commandment is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:27). John tells us, “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). We follow the steps of Jesus when we love God and our fellowmen.

The little boy found his father in the barn by following a line of footprints leading to the building. Just so, following the footprints named in the lesson you have just read will lead to faith in Jesus Christ, and will point you to a home in heaven.